Concerns about mice under loft flowing.?

Question

I would like to put flooring in my loft, I live in the scottish countryside and during winter get mice in my loft. My question is this :- If I floor the loft will the mice be destructive to the cabling under the loft flooring, if so how can I prevent them doing this or will they simply go away because the area will be more inhabited by humans ?

Thanks in advance for your answers

Andy

Answer 1

Mice certainly do eat PVC cables, right through the sheath and insulation to the copper coductors. I've come across this many times. The only way to stop it, and this is an IEE regulation, is to use steel conduit and junction boxes where cables are exposed. You may also create a partial detterent with plastic conduit or even mini trunking as it is a bit harder to penetrate than the cable sheath. You could also try a couple of electronic repellents, these worked in my cellar.

Answer 2

You would be best to try to get rid of the mice while the area is still open. Yes mice have been known to be destructive of residential wiring, & no the presence of people doesn't discourage mice from entering a home.

The best thing that I can suggest is for you to try to find every possible place that the mice could be using to enter the loft area, & seal up the holes. You may be able to find a caulk that mice don't like the flavour of, or you can try my favourite which is to stuff small openings with steel wool. You would be amazed at the size of some of the openings that a mouse can get through so don't judge any crack or hole as too small for them to pass through. Also if possible try to clean up their droppings as well because it emits an odour that is like a roadsign for new mice to come on in. Just handle the clean up as hazardous waste because rodent droppings are a source for respiratory diseases so take every precaution to avoid any personal contact with that stuff.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

Yes they eat cables all right, the little bar stewards. They nibble at the PVC insulation.

Are you sure you want to floor the entire loft? - Because if you are only going to use it for storage, it's a surprisingly huge job. And don't forget that you, also , will require access to the cables one day.

Persnally I'd just put down some walkways and you can just store stuff on the joists. You can put down mouse bait, the blue stuff is surprisingly effective.

If you are flooring it for more permanent occupation. yes the increased human presence will deter the little b uggers.

I live in agricultural Scotland too and as soon as the harvest starts, followed by the frosts , in they come.

Answer 4

Mice will come where its warm in winter or there's a food source (but they will try any thing) - keep smells down to stop them coming into house. You need to thouroughly go round the outside of the house and silicone / seal all entry points that the pesky little critters can get in through or trap them (but they breed fast - My mum caught 27 in one w/end when she had a problem). If you go ahead without solving the problem you may have to get under the floor to re-wire after they have chewed through your cables.

If its quiet at night they will always be around - being nocturnal. Sadly you should routinely put down traps/poison if you want hassle free loft space try Rentokill or Ecolab- or try eco friendly approach & get a couple of cats.

Answer 5

Ultrasonic Mouse/Rat Repeller. I'm about to plug mine in...?
Just before harvest time go around outside of house , Use fine
mesh over Air Bricks & Vents except Gas Flues of course.
I once found a dead mouse inside a fuseboard & the whole house
had been done in metal conduit...?

Answer 6

My friend they have a wonderful invention called mouse TRAPS.When you see signs of droppings set about 3or4 traps along paths they might travel.After catching 3or more you should be rid of that bunch.Then go ahead and install what you want up there.Good Luck

Answer 7

Perhaps it would be wise to cover the cables with plastic boxing.before you cover the floor

Answer 8

Lift the cables and put them in ducting so you can work on them if needed

Answer 9

I very much doubt they would damage the cabling if they did it would be the first time i heard of this. i would agree and say if you are actually creating a loft conversion then they would probably disappear

Answer 10

Get a cat, best thing weve done to get rid of mice.
Havent seen or heard one since !!